Tuesday Sunshine and Prayers for Others

Yesterday was quite the day
on the prayer request front.
*
Not only did I learn that
the beloved Matriarch and Patriarch 
who are like grandparents to my Ottawa Parish
are really struggling....
*
One of my close friends
who was at my Ottawa bridal shower
and wedding,
who I met the very vespers service
over 7 years in my Ottawa parish
told me of two of her family members health
struggles,
including a newly diagnosis-ed cancer.
*
I am still waiting and praying for
another Ottawa friend who has
pneumonia
and
the list goes on from there.

So the candles are lit...
*
(Next time not so many
candles in this one,
too much heat by the glass
and it got a very small crack in it;
lesson learned).
*
I sent my friend this
Akathist to the Mother of God, Healer of Cancer
via email.
*
I listened to this wonderful
short podcast this morning,
early,
as the meds I am on are doing
a huge insomnia number on me
(tomorrow is the last day to be on them,
Thank God).
The podcast, by
Frederica Mathewes-Green
is about current thoughts she is having on
intercessory prayer and
when you see others suffering and
just want the suffering to end.
Worth listening to.

Mr. Husband and I are hoping
for a dinner that is simple
and that I learned from my sister-friend.
*
Toasted bread, butter, avocado and chicken.
With a salad on the side...
We got my last sour dough bread
that we had been saving
out of the freezer...
*
I must admit that I am hoping to make more
bread tomorrow.
I know I am supposed to be resting,
but am hoping that with using the mixer
to knead the dough,
it will not be too much work.
And someone we know is DV coming tomorrow
to help with some things while I am unwell...
so, we will see.
*
Not being able to do everything,
like my new found love of baking bread,
gives new meaning to me of
the Our Father:
give us our daily bread. 

I am in forever-love with my kitchen
and the sunlight in the mornings.

These two cards
(I had to hand write the verse for the second
as it was behind this icon)
were part of one of our wedding gifts.
From one of my dearly beloved prayerful Catholic friends.
I just love them.

 

This 365 day verse calendar
was given to Mr. Husband and I
by my cousin A. who
has given so many beautiful things to me
throughout the years.
*
A good reminder for me today.
I know I am supposed to be still and resting.
At the same time I admit to asking God
how can I rest when am taking
meds that wire me day and night?
But I guess that is where
the lacking self-discipline is supposed to be
worked on...
*
So I will keep knitting!
Oh, here's another great thing
for anyone who loves children to listen to:
The Akathist to the Mother of God Nurturer of Children
read by Frederica Mathewes-Green.
One of my dear friends had asked
me via email if I knew of an audio version of this 
Akathist and I realized 
not only did I know of this one,
but did not know if I had ever shared it with you all!
It's really lovely and I love it
for praying for my godchildren...
*
If anyone knows of other places to listen to audio 
versions of Akathists, 
please do let me know
either through a comment 
or my blog email 
(roosjeblog AT yahoo DOT CA).
Thanks!
*
I hope to do a knitting post soon.
I am almost done with the first scarf,
have two more scarves going
and more than half way on the dish cloth!
*
Blessings on your day!

Thoughts on Saturday - St. Olga's Day

I am very slowly reading

Fredrica Matthewes-Green's book,

The Jesus Prayer;

So far all I can say about this book is that it is not for the

faint of heart,

is very instructive and accessible

and that if you are an Orthodox Christian

I would strongly recommend consulting your priest or spiritual father

for discernment for how to apply it.

*

Meanwhile, I am hoping to listen soon to her podcast on distractions in prayer

as I have much to learn.

*

In her book she speaks of growing in the Jesus Prayer

and that one eventually can be given the space

to begin seeing and examining one's thoughts

to see if they are actually good or true thoughts.

*

I have been thinking about thinking and thoughts

since reading the beginning pages of this book;

how often are we more interested

in our own thoughts

than in concentrating in prayer;

how silly my own thoughts can be

when I actually look at them just a tiny bit.

How quick wrong thoughts are and how embedded;

as easy as a quick stab of jealousy over a picture of some one's house

with a well ordered beautiful icon corner

while forgetting that one's own corner

is a gift from God

and is also beautiful.

Not to mention forgetting that things like Icon Corners

develop over time;

for example,

my first Icons were almost all printed paper copies;

I was a student and did not have money

to spend on much...

*

God is so merciful to give us authors like

Kh. Fredrica who help make sense of these things.

God has been merciful also to me this week!

Even though I did fail my first French test

I took another one on reading

as I was given the option to do so.

*

While on this French test also

I did not get the level needed,

I was really close to it

and did quite well.

*

I was so happy!

By God's mercy I was able to have a better strategy for taking

the timed online test

and was more peaceful, since there was no pressure as

I had already failed the first test

which put me out of the running for the job

that I was doing the test for.

*

So while I will be job searching full time now

(i.e. instead of studying French full time)

I am still going to seek to keep up practicing my French.

*

I will need God's mercy to do so...

Am hoping to have another tea party soon.

*

It is so beautiful to create beauty and I thank God

for the opportunity.

*

God is so good to us.

*

Lastly, St. Olga's day is today, old calendar;

Read her story here

and take heart and

see how a Grandmother's influence is strong!

How many of us have been saved by our Grandmother's prayers...

here again

Summary:

about the foot:

1. foot still broken
2. wound not infected - got better
3. appointment with specialist for foot exam this Wednesday

about my new job:

1. work did not realize how injured I was and sent me home early from training
2. they say I am to be on the payroll and that I cannot work until I am better
3. doing paper work tomorrow...

about daily life:

1. crutches - I am walking better on them
2. lots of $ spent on taxi rides
3. it is hard to make food to eat when I have one hand free (other one holding on to something so I do not fall as I am on one foot).

conclusion:

1. need God's mercy
2. need prayer
3. need food. (friend is making me food tomorrow)

on other notes...

1. liturgy tomorrow! St. John the Baptist (And His Mom, St. Elizabeth!) (old calendar)
2. Cleo the Cat really misses the normal routine and having me walk around... I can't do as much for her or play with her. a SERIOUS problem in her view.
3. I heard Fr. Thomas Hopko and Frederica M-G speak this past week. This was great.